skrillay0 Posted August 13, 2015 Share Posted August 13, 2015 Hey Fellas Im building this tank for my daughter and myself . This would be my first Saltwater Reef/Tank ever so Im learning as I go. I just wanted to share my build and get advice and help! I have been gathering some parts here and there for bit. IM Fusion 10 Nano Skkye Light 18WattCaribsea Arag Alive Fuji Pink I used All 10LBS ReefCleaners 7LBS Dry Rock InTanked Media Basket W/Filter Floss Tunze Nano Care Magnet Jebao RW4 With 8watt Adapter Cobalt NeoTherm 50Watt Heater Boyd Chemi Pure Blue API Master Saltwater Test Instant Ocean Reef Crystal Great Value Distilled Water AS Refractometer from Amazon I tired a little rock scape. My LFS is too far to be buying RODI/Saltwater Pre mix So I thought I would try distilled water with crystal reef. I didnt think a RODI unit would be practical for a 10Gal Tank I got the Salinity to about 1.025-1.026 I started getting everything ready to put together. I haven't seen many media baskets in my days but I could tell that the Intanked media basket was far superior than the stock IM basket. Im using the newer BioCube 14 stand which fits pretty good. Got the sand and rocks how I liked it and the tank took about 7Gallons to fill. I switched the Rw4 24watt to a 8watt adapter I found which was working better than a 12watt adapter i had. The stock 24Watt adapter would push my sand like crazy even on low setting. Got the temp set a 78 and only running Filter Floss. Its been running for about a day and has been clearing up a bit. This is how the tank sits as of right now. I been going around everywhere to find pure ammonia to dose but no luck. I used a bottle of Bio Spira but it do anything. Im going to try a hardware store tomorrow. Let me know if you guys suggest something else to get this cycle started! Cheers Link to comment
Begow Posted August 13, 2015 Share Posted August 13, 2015 Hey Fellas Im building this tank for my daughter and myself . This would be my first Saltwater Reef/Tank ever so Im learning as I go. I just wanted to share my build and get advice and help! I have been gathering some parts here and there for bit. IM Fusion 10 Nano Skkye Light 18Watt Caribsea Arag Alive Fuji Pink I used All 10LBS ReefCleaners 7LBS Dry Rock InTanked Media Basket W/Filter Floss Tunze Nano Care Magnet Jebao RW4 With 8watt Adapter Cobalt NeoTherm 50Watt Heater Boyd Chemi Pure Blue API Master Saltwater Test Instant Ocean Reef Crystal Great Value Distilled Water AS Refractometer from Amazon I tired a little rock scape. My LFS is too far to be buying RODI/Saltwater Pre mix So I thought I would try distilled water with crystal reef. I didnt think a RODI unit would be practical for a 10Gal Tank I got the Salinity to about 1.025-1.026 I started getting everything ready to put together. I haven't seen many media baskets in my days but I could tell that the Intanked media basket was far superior than the stock IM basket. Im using the newer BioCube 14 stand which fits pretty good. Got the sand and rocks how I liked it and the tank took about 7Gallons to fill. I switched the Rw4 24watt to a 8watt adapter I found which was working better than a 12watt adapter i had. The stock 24Watt adapter would push my sand like crazy even on low setting. Got the temp set a 78 and only running Filter Floss. Its been running for about a day and has been clearing up a bit. This is how the tank sits as of right now. I been going around everywhere to find pure ammonia to dose but no luck. I used a bottle of Bio Spira but it do anything. Im going to try a hardware store tomorrow. Let me know if you guys suggest something else to get this cycle started! Cheers I always add a small cocktail shrimp in a filter sock so I can easily remove it once it starts to decompose. Let it run a few days then snag it out. Also, I know RO/DI unit is a bigger investment, but with weekly water changes carrying all those jugs back and fourth will sooner or later get old. I got sick of it pretty quick, especially with how busy we stay as father's and husband (I'm sure you know the feeling). Lastly, welcome to the forum man! Great job doing this with your kid, my 15 month old son loves my tank. I often find him sitting on the couch just looking at the tank calmly! Link to comment
skrillay0 Posted August 13, 2015 Author Share Posted August 13, 2015 I always add a small cocktail shrimp in a filter sock so I can easily remove it once it starts to decompose. Let it run a few days then snag it out. Also, I know RO/DI unit is a bigger investment, but with weekly water changes carrying all those jugs back and fourth will sooner or later get old. I got sick of it pretty quick, especially with how busy we stay as father's and husband (I'm sure you know the feeling). Lastly, welcome to the forum man! Great job doing this with your kid, my 15 month old son loves my tank. I often find him sitting on the couch just looking at the tank calmly! Sweet! If I cant find any ammonia Im going to try the shrimp. I dont want it to smell to bad doe.. I go to Walmart about twice a week so it isnt a big deal but I do understand where you're coming from. I plan on doing only one gallon change a week. My daughter is almost two and she used to love putting her forehead on my old tetra Fluva Chi tank. They are starting to talk now and it funny how she says fish also lol. Link to comment
Begow Posted August 13, 2015 Share Posted August 13, 2015 Sweet! If I cant find any ammonia Im going to try the shrimp. I dont want it to smell to bad doe.. I go to Walmart about twice a week so it isnt a big deal but I do understand where you're coming from. I plan on doing only one gallon change a week. My daughter is almost two and she used to love putting her forehead on my old tetra Fluva Chi tank. They are starting to talk now and it funny how she says fish also lol. Nice man! The shrimp in my experience has never smelled. When I first started the hobby I would leave the shrimp in there and never take it out and never experienced a smell, and I have a SUPER strong sense of smell. Link to comment
skrillay0 Posted August 21, 2015 Author Share Posted August 21, 2015 I found some Ace Ammonia and I Dosed 1.5ML of it into my tank. I found a calculator online I used which was suppose to give me 4 PPM but instead brought me to 8PPM. 8/15/15 8/17/15 8/19/15 8/20/15 Today Did I screw up for dosing to much? Why is my nitrite/nitrate out the roof? Thanks Fellas Link to comment
HarryPotter Posted August 21, 2015 Share Posted August 21, 2015 I found some Ace Ammonia and I Dosed 1.5ML of it into my tank. I found a calculator online I used which was suppose to give me 4 PPM but instead brought me to 8PPM. 8/15/15 8/17/15 8/19/15 8/20/15 Today Did I screw up for dosing to much? Why is my nitrite/nitrate out the roof? Thanks Fellas Probably just from the tank processing the (overdose?) ammonia. Time will help (If you're worried about the high levels, you could do a 2 gallon water change?) Link to comment
skrillay0 Posted August 21, 2015 Author Share Posted August 21, 2015 Probably just from the tank processing the (overdose?) ammonia. Time will help (If you're worried about the high levels, you could do a 2 gallon water change?) Thanks! So im on the right track correct? I will just give it time. I Dont have to do a water change if im cycling right? Link to comment
skrillay0 Posted August 27, 2015 Author Share Posted August 27, 2015 Everything finally went down and ammonia started to clear in 24 hrs. I removed some rocks because it looked crowded. I got a deal on two clowns at my LFS. One is way bigger than the other but doesnt seem to be bullied. They are already eating in their new tank. I also checked the water parameters after adding the fish and everything is good. Should I wait for the Diatoms before ordering a CUC from ReefCleaners? Is it ok to add a Cleaner shrimp/Fire Shrimp now? Cheers!! I also did a water change and changed my filter floss. Put two bags of the Chemi Pure Blue Nano in also.. Link to comment
HarryPotter Posted August 28, 2015 Share Posted August 28, 2015 Everything finally went down and ammonia started to clear in 24 hrs. I removed some rocks because it looked crowded. I got a deal on two clowns at my LFS. One is way bigger than the other but doesnt seem to be bullied. They are already eating in their new tank. I also checked the water parameters after adding the fish and everything is good. Should I wait for the Diatoms before ordering a CUC from ReefCleaners? Is it ok to add a Cleaner shrimp/Fire Shrimp now? Cheers!! I also did a water change and changed my filter floss. Put two bags of the Chemi Pure Blue Nano in also.. How is your nitrate? Should be near zero if you're adding fish! You could order a CUC now if you are prepared to feed them, or just wait till diatoms. 6 days ago your parameters were pretty out of whack, now they're zero'd out and stable? Link to comment
skrillay0 Posted August 28, 2015 Author Share Posted August 28, 2015 After the ammonia went to zero the nitrites went down and the nitrates was around 10ppm. I did a 1 Gallon water change and it went to zero. I dosed more ammonia and it would clear within 24hrs. This is my test today after i added the fish. The first day I got the clowns I was worried because they would act weird when i turn off the lights. They would swim all crazy sideways and stay near the bottom. When I turn they lights back on they would swim normal and swim everywhere. lol Link to comment
schgr.cube Posted August 28, 2015 Share Posted August 28, 2015 I love the scape! It looks great so far. Link to comment
skrillay0 Posted August 31, 2015 Author Share Posted August 31, 2015 I got myself a cleaner shrimp the other day. He has been doing good. Will go crazy when I feed the tank and put my hands in it. Not a shy guy at all. Link to comment
skrillay0 Posted February 12, 2016 Author Share Posted February 12, 2016 I sold this setup to a friend back in Oct. I was very impatient and just wanted to get rid of it because of the algae etc. Wanted to give it another try and ended up ordering everything over again but a few changes. Im going to be patient and wait things out this time around lol. Fusion10 Rw4 AI Prime Aqua Smart Micro ATO Intank Basket NeoTherm Fidddddy LiveStock -Phantom Clown -Picasso Clown Coral -Pink Tipped Torch Coral -Eagle Eye Zoa -Radioactive Dragon Eye Zoa Cheers! Link to comment
Droy008 Posted February 12, 2016 Share Posted February 12, 2016 welcome back! Reefing definitely takes patience (I'm not really one to talk), but persistence is key. A lot of people go through the cycle you just did, they get burned out and they wind up with a tank and pets they don't want to care for. Then they jump ship and later they regret it. I find it's best to stay active on the forums. It's a nice way to take up the time needed for our tanks to cycle and mature as well as let the corals grow out. It's also a great way to learn fun new stuff! BTW, nice first frags! Link to comment
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